MARTINEZ, CA — Mark A. Peterson, District Attorney of Contra Costa County, announces that on October 15, 2014, a grand jury voted to indict defendant Charles Waldo with nine counts of solicitation to commit murder and one count of conspiracy to commit murder. The indictment alleges that while serving time in custody at the Martinez Detention Facility, the defendant solicited and conspired with other inmates to arrange the killing of nine different witnesses that were set to testify against him at an upcoming trial. These ten new charges will be added to the fifty charges the defendant currently faces.

“Protecting witnesses and victims is central to maintaining the integrity of the criminal justice system” said Mr. Peterson. “Our office will aggressively pursue anyone who attempts to thwart the orderly administration of justice.” The investigation of Mr. Waldo began when the Auto Insurance Fraud Unit of the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office received information about a fraudulent auto insurance claim related to an automobile arson. With the assistance of the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, the investigation expanded and soon involved multiple fraudulent insurance claims related to the arsons and vandalisms of five cars over a five year period. The loss from these fraudulent claims exceeds $100,000 dollars.